TCM Screening ‘The Most Significant Political Films of All Time’ (Exclusive)

TCM Screening ‘The Most Significant Political Films of All Time’ (Exclusive)

As a film enthusiast with a passion for cinema that spans several decades and countless genres, I must say that this lineup is nothing short of a dream come true! From the timeless classics like Citizen Kane and All the President’s Men to the more contemporary gems like Wag the Dog and The Candidate, there’s something here for every cinephile.


As Election Day approaches, TCM aims to capture the attention of film enthusiasts by screening 50 significant political films across nine consecutive Fridays, under the title “Making Change: The Greatest Political Movies Ever Made“.

The show, which airs from September 6th to November 1st, takes place just four days before America chooses its new president. During this time, TCM host Ben Mankiewicz will engage in discussions with an impressive lineup that includes Steven Spielberg, Spike Lee, Lee Grant, Sally Field, Andy Garcia, Melissa Etheridge, John Turturro, Bill Maher, Alexander Payne, Diane Lane, Josh Mankiewicz, Barry Levinson, Maureen Dowd, Stacey Abrams, and former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.

Watch the trailer here.

In June 2023, The New Republic revealed its rankings for half of the movies, and Making Change presents these films. The films broadcast on TCM date back from 1915 to 2016, ranging from D.W. Griffith’s The Birth of a Nation to Raoul Peck’s I Am Not Your Negro. The series commences with the number one film on the list, The Battle of Algiers (1966).

(In your free time, take a look at THR’s newly compiled list of the best 20 political films, handpicked by our leading film critic, David Rooney.)

“Ben Mankiewicz (Josh’s younger brother) stated that it became clear to him at a young age how politics and culture constantly overlap in everyday life. He also pointed out that films, even prior to the advent of sound, have always reflected the political atmosphere around us.”

As a cinephile with a deep-rooted passion for movies that transcend time and space, I find immense joy in tuning into this series that brings together a diverse array of filmmakers, actors, political figures, and journalists. Having spent countless hours immersed in the world of cinema, I can attest to the profound impact films have had on shaping my perspective and understanding of societal culture.

TCM Screening ‘The Most Significant Political Films of All Time’ (Exclusive)

As a long-time enthusiast of various intellectual discussions and debates, I have always made it a point to stay updated with the latest schedules of such events. Today, I would like to share with you the schedule for an upcoming series of presentations, complete with our esteemed guest speakers and rankings by The New Republic (all times listed in Eastern/Pacific Time). This event promises to be an enlightening experience, given my personal interest in these subjects and the reputation of the guest speakers. I hope this information proves useful to you as well!

On September 6th, Friday evening at 8 PM, “The Battle of Algiers” (1966) will be screened, co-hosted by Michael Tomasky from The New Republic (ranked No. 1). At 10:15 PM, “All the King’s Men” (1949) follows, Steven Spielberg’s pick and ranked No. 59.

Friday, Sept. 13
8 p.m. Reds (1981) (Bill Maher – No. 41)
11:30 p.m. The Parallax View (1974) (Kyle Smith – No. 47)
1:30 a.m. Germany, Year Zero (1948) (Alexander Payne – No. 97)
3 a.m. Gabriel Over the White House (1933) (No. 30)
4:30 a.m. The Battleship Potemkin (1925) (No. 7)
6 a.m. The Fog of War (2003) (No. 56)

Friday, Sept. 20
8 p.m. Dr. Strangelove (1964) (Spike Lee – No. 3)
9:45 p.m. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) (Stacey Abrams – No. 11)
12:15 a.m. Hearts and Minds (1974) (Phil Mattingly – No. 39)
2:15 a.m. The Lives of Others (2006) (No. 19)
4:45 a.m. Born in Flames (1983) (No. 43)
6:15 a.m. Bicycle Thieves (1948) (No. 52)

Friday, Sept. 27
8 p.m. Three Days of the Condor (1975) (Maureen Dowd – No. 72)
10:15 p.m. I Am Not Your Negro (2016) (Sara Sidner – No. 58)
12 a.m. The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928) (Melissa Etheridge – No. 88)
1:30 a.m. The Last Hurrah (1958) (No. 57)
3:45 a.m. Night of the Living Dead (1968) (No. 35)
5:15 a.m. The Tin Drum (1979) (No. 92)

On Friday, October 4th:

Tonight, October 11th, here’s my movie marathon schedule:

On the evening of October 18th, here’s a suggested schedule for your viewing:

On Friday, October 25th, at 8:00 PM, watch “All the President’s Men” (1976), directed by Steven Spielberg (ranked No. 4). Followed by “Citizen Kane” (1941), directed by Frank Luntz (ranked No. 33) at 10:30 PM. At 12:45 AM, catch “Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles” (1975), ranked No. 36 by Lizzie Borden. Then, at 4:15 AM, view “Olympia Part One: Festival of Nations” (1938) (ranked No. 86). And finally, at 6:15 AM, watch “Olympia Part Two: Beauty of the Festival” (1938) (also ranked No. 86).

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2024-08-23 18:25